SUDOKU, FUN WITH NUMBERS
When you open the puzzles page in a newspaper, have you ever wondered about those blank grids with a few scattered numbers? They're Sudoku puzzles - a global craze!
In this game, you fill in the grid with singular, unique numbers. That’s where the name comes from: su means number and doku means single. Though the name is Japanese, the puzzle was actually created by American architect Howard Garns in 1979. He called it Number Place, but it didn't gain much popularity in the US. Japanese publishers discovered it in the 1980s, renamed it Sudoku, and by 1984, it was a sensation in Japan.
Twenty years later, Hong Kong judge Wayne Gould came across Sudoku during a visit to Tokyo. He introduced it to The Times in London in 2004, sparkling a worldwide craze. By 2005, newspapers across Europe, India, and beyond had embraced Sudoku, and the puzzle's popularity has only grown since.
Sudoku is simple but addictive. A classic puzzle features a grid of 9 large boxes, each divided into a 3X3 grid. Your task is to fill in the empty cells so that:
1. Each horizontal row contains the numbers 1 to 9 without repetition.
2. Each vertical column contains the numbers 1 to 9 without repetition.
3. Each 3X3 box contains the numbers 1 to 9 without repetition.
It's not about Math - just logic and patience. With practice, you'll get better at spotting patterns and solving puzzles step by step.
The fun doesn't stop there! You can swap numbers for letters, symbols or pictures and still follow the same rules. Modern variants, like jigsaw Sudoku or the tricky killer Sudoku, make it more exciting.
Remember, every Sudoku puzzle is a test of logic, persistence and problem-solving. Ready to give it a try?
